What Is "We choose to go to the Moon"

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Last updated: April 10, 2026

Quick Answer: President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous "We choose to go to the Moon" speech on September 12, 1962, at Rice University, committing the United States to landing humans on the Moon before 1970. This iconic declaration launched the Apollo program, which successfully achieved the goal with Apollo 11's Moon landing on July 20, 1969, marking humanity's greatest technological achievement.

Key Facts

JFK delivered the speech on September 12, 1962, at Rice University in Houston, Texas, during the height of the Cold War Space Race
Kennedy committed the U.S. to landing a man on the Moon before the end of the 1960s, giving the nation less than a decade to achieve the goal
The Apollo program ultimately cost over $280 billion in today's dollars, consuming approximately 4% of the federal budget at its peak in 1966
Apollo 11 successfully landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the lunar surface
The Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union drove technological innovation, leading to advances in computers, materials science, and rocket engineering

Overview

"We choose to go to the Moon" is one of the most iconic statements in American history, delivered by President John F. Kennedy on September 12, 1962, at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The famous speech outlined America's commitment to landing humans on the Moon, not as an easy task, but as a challenging goal worthy of national effort during the Cold War era.

Kennedy's declaration came during a pivotal moment in the Space Race, a technological competition between the United States and Soviet Union that defined the 1960s. The speech catalyzed the creation and acceleration of the Apollo program, which ultimately achieved Kennedy's vision with the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing on July 20, 1969, eight years after the president's challenge.

How It Works

The Apollo program that resulted from Kennedy's speech followed a carefully planned development and execution strategy:

Space Race Competition: The Soviet Union's early successes with Sputnik (1957) and Yuri Gagarin's orbital flight (1961) prompted the United States to establish a bold countergoal that would demonstrate American technological superiority.
Apollo Program Phases: NASA developed the program in stages, including unmanned testing missions, the Gemini program for human spaceflight experience, and finally the Apollo missions that built the spacecraft, rockets, and guidance systems necessary for lunar landing.
Saturn V Rocket Development: Engineers created the Saturn V, a 363-foot tall rocket powerful enough to send the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, making it one of the most complex machines ever built at the time.
Landing Infrastructure: The program required developing the Lunar Module, life support systems, navigation computers, and training protocols for astronauts to safely land and operate on the Moon's surface in a completely unknown environment.

Key Comparisons

Aspect	Apollo Program (U.S.)	Soviet Moon Program
Timeline	Accelerated after Kennedy's 1962 speech; landed in 1969	Slower development; never achieved manned landing
Budget & Resources	$280+ billion (today's dollars); 400,000+ personnel	Less transparent; significant resource constraints
Success Rate	6 successful Moon landings (Apollo 11, 12, 14-17)	Unmanned probes only; N14 rocket failures
Technology Transfer	Led to advances in computing, materials, and communications	Contributed to Soviet space achievements but not lunar landing

Why It Matters

Technological Innovation: The Apollo program accelerated development of computers, advanced materials, life support systems, and telecommunications technology that influenced civilian industries for decades.
International Prestige: Successfully completing Kennedy's goal demonstrated American technological capability and resolve during the Cold War, providing significant geopolitical advantage and inspiring confidence in American leadership.
Scientific Discovery: The Moon landings returned 842 pounds of lunar samples that revolutionized understanding of the Moon's geology, composition, and the early solar system's history.
Human Achievement: The Apollo program proved humanity could accomplish seemingly impossible goals through determination, innovation, and cooperation, inspiring generations to pursue careers in science and engineering.

Kennedy's "We choose to go to the Moon" speech transformed a distant dream into national policy and ultimately achieved one of humanity's greatest accomplishments. The legacy of the Apollo program extends far beyond the Moon landings, fundamentally changing how society approaches innovation, exploration, and technological challenges. Today, Kennedy's words remain a powerful reminder of what determined nations can accomplish when they commit resources and talent toward ambitious goals.